SA Court Rules & Recess Limits | Court Day Calculator

This reference combines short definition excerpts with rule-specific summaries, not the full legal corpus. The calculator counts selected settings; it cannot identify the applicable rule or validate service, filing or a court order. Recess exclusions depend on the step and do not suspend every duty.

By Bertus Preller, Family Law and Divorce Attorney, Maurice Phillips Wisenberg

Content updated: 21 October 2026

Bertus Preller is a family law and divorce attorney at Maurice Phillips Wisenberg with more than 35 years of legal experience. About Bertus Preller

The Justice consolidated Uniform Rules PDF is marked updated to 4 July 2025 and last checked 30 May 2025. Check later amendments through the Justice index and the applicable court’s current directives. Check the applicable rule and any later amendments.

Showing 13 of 13 entries

High CourtFull text

Uniform Rules of Court — Rule 1: Definition of "court day"

Uniform Rules of Court, Rule 1 (GN R48 of 1965, as amended)

Rule 1 excludes Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays when computing time expressed in days under the Uniform Rules or a court order.

"court day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, and only court days shall be included in the computation of any time expressed in days prescribed by these Rules or fixed by any order of court.

Department of Justice — Uniform Rules of Court (PDF) Check source version and later amendments

Magistrates' CourtFull text

Magistrates' Courts Rules — Rule 2: Definition of "court day"

Magistrates' Courts Rules, Rule 2 (GN R740 of 2010, as amended)

Court-day definition excerpt. Consult the current Magistrates’ Courts Rules through the Justice index for the relevant procedural step.

"court day" means any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or public holiday, and only court days shall be included in the computation of any time expressed in days prescribed by these Rules or fixed by any order of court.

Justice — current rules and directives index Check source version and later amendments

StatuteFull text

Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994 — Sections 2 and 3

Public Holidays Act 36 of 1994, ss 2–3

Section 2 includes Monday observance after Sunday holidays. Section 3 allows additional holidays by presidential proclamation; check government notices.

Section 2 — Public holidays
The days mentioned in Schedule 1 shall be public holidays, and whenever any public holiday falls on a Sunday, the Monday following on it shall be a public holiday.

Section 3 — Additional public holidays
Whenever any occasion requires the declaration of a public holiday not mentioned in Schedule 1, the President may by proclamation in the Gazette declare that day to be a public holiday.

Government — public holidays Check source version and later amendments

High CourtSummary

Uniform Rule 6 — Applications

Uniform Rules of Court, Rule 6

Rule 6(5)(b)(iii)(aa) excludes 21 December–7 January inclusive for the relevant notice of intention to oppose and affidavits. Subparagraph (bb) excludes urgent Rule 6(12) and Rule 43 applications from that exclusion.

Uniform Rules of Court (PDF) Check source version and later amendments

High CourtSummary

Uniform Rule 26 — Failure to deliver pleadings; notice of bar

Uniform Rules of Court, Rule 26

Rule 26 excludes 16 December–15 January inclusive when calculating time allowed for delivery of pleadings for that rule. Rule 19(1) specifies the same interval for a notice of intention to defend. Neither establishes a universal recess.

Uniform Rules of Court (PDF) Check source version and later amendments

StatuteSummary

Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013

Framework for the superior courts. This Act alone does not supply the period or counting method for a particular procedural step.

gov.za — Superior Courts Act 10 of 2013 Check source version and later amendments

StatuteSummary

Magistrates' Courts Act 32 of 1944

Read this enabling Act alongside the current Magistrates’ Courts Rules and applicable directives; do not import High Court recess exclusions automatically.

gov.za — Magistrates' Courts Act 32 of 1944 Check source version and later amendments

Magistrates' CourtSummary

Magistrates' Courts Rule 9 — Service of process

Magistrates' Courts Rules, Rule 9

Service requirements can determine the trigger event. Check the current rule and method of service.

Justice — current rules and directives index Check source version and later amendments

Magistrates' CourtSummary

Magistrates' Courts Rule 55 — Applications

Magistrates' Courts Rules, Rule 55

Consult the current application provisions for the required period, notice, service and affidavit requirements.

Justice — current rules and directives index Check source version and later amendments

Constitutional CourtSummary

Rules of the Constitutional Court

Rules of the Constitutional Court (GN R1675 of 2003, as amended)

Consult the Constitutional Court’s current rules, court order and directives for the particular filing or application.

Justice — rules and directives index Check source version and later amendments

Supreme Court of AppealSummary

Rules Regulating the Conduct of the Proceedings of the Supreme Court of Appeal

SCA Rules (GN R1523 of 27 November 1998, as amended)

Consult current Supreme Court of Appeal rules and directives for the relevant appeal or application.

Justice — rules and directives index Check source version and later amendments

Labour CourtSummary

Rules for the Conduct of Proceedings in the Labour Court

Current Labour Court Rules — check the Justice index

Consult the current Labour Court rules and directives. Do not rely on historical rule numbers or assume High Court recess presets apply.

Justice — rules and directives index Check source version and later amendments

StatuteSummary

Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995

Read with current Labour Court rules and directives; the Act does not make the calculator’s presets universally applicable.

gov.za — Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995 Check source version and later amendments

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